hoist

American  

[hoist, hahyst] / hɔɪst, haɪst /

verb (used with object)

hoists, present (3rd person singular) hoisted, past participle, past hoisting present participle

1. to raise or lift, especially by some mechanical appliance.

   to hoist a flag; to hoist the mainsail.

   Synonyms:

   elevate

   Antonyms:

   lower

2. to raise to one's lips and drink; drink (especially beer or whiskey) with gusto.

   Let's go hoist a few beers.

3. Archaic. a simple past tense and past participle of hoise.

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noun

hoists plural

1. an apparatus for hoisting, as a block and tackle, a derrick, or a crane.

2. act of hoisting; a lift.

   Give that sofa a hoist at your end.

3. Nautical.

   1. the vertical dimension amidships of any square sail that is hoisted with a yard.

   2. the distance between the hoisted and the lowered position of such a yard.

   3. the dimension of a fore-and-aft sail along the luff.

   4. a number of flags raised together as a signal.

4. (on a flag)

   1. the vertical dimension as flown from a vertical staff.

   2. the edge running next to the staff.

idioms

1. hoist by / with one's own petard. petard.

hoist British  

/ hɔɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to raise or lift up, esp by mechanical means

2. See petard

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noun

1. any apparatus or device for hoisting

2. the act of hoisting

3. See rotary clothesline

4. nautical

   1. the amidships height of a sail bent to the yard with which it is hoisted Compare drop

   2. the difference between the set and lowered positions of this yard

5. nautical the length of the luff of a fore-and-aft sail

6. nautical a group of signal flags

7. the inner edge of a flag next to the staff Compare fly 1

Synonym Usage

See raise.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hoister
  noun
• unhoisted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hoists
  plural

Participles

• hoisting
  present
• hoisted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• hoist
  simple
• hoists
  simple
• have hoisted
  perfect
• has hoisted
  perfect
• are hoisting
  progressive
• am hoisting
  progressive
• is hoisting
  progressive
• have been hoisting
  perfect progressive
• has been hoisting
  perfect progressive

Past

• hoisted
  simple
• had hoisted
  perfect
• was hoisting
  progressive
• were hoisting
  progressive
• had been hoisting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will hoist
  simple
• will have hoisted
  perfect
• will be hoisting
  progressive
• will have been hoisting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of hoist

First recorded in 1540–50; later variant of hoise, with -t as in against, etc.

Explanation

To hoist is to raise up or lift, like a crane or forklift would. You can hoist yourself up onto the roof to get a better view, or hoist your teammate onto your shoulders after she scores the winning goal. This word is generally used to describe heavier lifting, like the hoisting of a fallen tree onto the bed of a truck or hoisting the Super Bowl trophy over your head after the big game. In nautical terms, where it comes up often, hoist refers to a group of flags that are raised all at once to communicate a signal.

Example Sentences

The Wellermen were the originators of the sea shanty trend on TikTok, with their versions of Misty Mountain, Nancy Mulligan and Hoist the Colours racking up billions of views.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025

Bars such as the Coleherne, the Anvil, Bloc, Substation and, most recently, the Hoist, have all disappeared into the annals of gay history, replaced with gastropubs, luxe apartments and identikit offices.

From The Guardian • Oct. 4, 2018

Heavy smoke continues to blanket the area, including Cedar Grove, Wishon Reservoir and Hoist Ridge.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2015

Hoist ways are within cores protected by reinforced concrete walls at least 18 inches thick.

From New York Times • Mar. 18, 2015

Hoist the hoar sun to welcome morning’s minions.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• erect
• heave
• pick up